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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Withhald, Withhold, v. Also: withald, withhad, withhaude, withhawd, withehalde, wythhald. P.t. withheld, witht held, vytheld. P.p. withhaldin, -en, withalden, withhadden, withauldin. [ME and e.m.E. withhold(en (c1290), wyth-halde(n (14th c.), withold(e (both c1400), withheld (1470-85), p.p. wiðhealden (c1200), withholde (1387-8), withholden (c1400), wythhalden (c1440).] tr.

1. a. To keep, retain (a person) (in prison, slavery, etc.). b. To keep in one's possession (something belonging to another). c. To retain possession of (something rightfully one's own).a. pres. ?1438 Alex. ii 1376.
Gif … sho … With-haldis [F. Et s'elle me retient] me of hir franchis Than haue I lemman at my will 1476 Thanes of Cawdor 64.
The Thane of Caldor … withhaldis him in presone and will nocht lat him till broch 1562-3 Winȝet I 38/1.
Thay … indurit as Pharao withhaldis the peple of God in thraldum 1567 Sat. P. v 46.
Ȝe had done wrang … Hir to withald agane hir will; Bot now, quhill trew tryall be sene Sho moste be keipit or all will spillp.t. ?1438 Alex. ii 369.
In the eld of xviii ȝeir, He bare first armes, and but dangeir With-held the lordis sonnes of the land, Quhilkis seruit him with fute and handp.p. 1482–3 Acta Conc. II cxx.
Herbert has in presence of the Lordis declarit … that he was nouther takin nor withhaldin agane his will 1513 Doug. i v 43.
We thi blude, thi kynrent and ofspring, … all throw the feid of ane, Has lossit our schippis, and ar betrasit ilkane And fer from Itale bene withhaldin [Ruddim. withhalden] eik c1590 Fowler I 32/156.
Ariadne, From whome hir sister reft hir spous and had from hir withhaddenb. pres. c1420 Wynt. v 130.
His barnage hale sayd, that he mycht Wythhald [C. Withe halde] the trewage wytht all rycht, That … payid was till Octovyan 1483 Acta Aud. 118*/2.
That the inhabitantis & perochionaris of the perochin of Buitergill wrangwisly withaldis fra the said William the offerandis teindis & froitis of the said kirk 1497 Acta Conc. II 76.
The complaynt made be the abbot and convent of Newbotle that … he maisterfully, at his aun hand … withhaldis fra thame thare kirkland 1501 Acta Conc. MS XI 3b.
That the sade James withhaldis hir charteris … Concernynng the sade bell akyr of land 1559 Proclamation of Francis and Mary in Knox I 364.
Thay … have violentlie intrometted with, taikin, and yit withhaldis the irnis of our cunȝee hous 1567 Acts III 42/2.
That na kepar of coquet seill absent him self or withhald the coquet, the schip being reddy 1598 Misc. Bann. C. II 226.
The contract betuixt Robert Ker and me (quhilk he iniustlie withhaldis fra me, for he hes bayth our partis)(b) 1546 Reg. Privy C. I 26.
The personis that committit the cruel slauchter [of Cardinal Betoun] … hes takin and withholdis the castel of Sanctandroisp.t. 1475 Prestwick B. Rec. 26.
Anne Kerd accusit in curt Andro Broun that wrangwisli he tuk awai hir ledir and witht held [pr. wicht, held] it 1506 Dumfries B. Ct. 2a.
Vytheldp.p. 1548 Lanark Sheriff Ct. MS 7.
The said Allane … hes … withhaldin … awcht daworkis of haye 1588 Old Ross-shire I 26.
Alexander Ros … hes withalden and reteinit the said chaptor this lang tyme bygane … and will nocht deliver the same to the saidis complenaris 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 78.
And quhen that thing is entered … be the defender, and is challenged be the persewer, as … withhaldin fra him, and [etc.](b) 1590 Conv. Burghs I 314.
Thomas Menȝes … hes withauldin fra the commoun weill of the said toun … the mettis of coalis, lyme, and saltc. ?a1450 Florimond 206.
I will on neid pas over the se, And menteine with all my mycht My land, and withhald ay my rycht 1513 Doug. vii i 62.
Son nor manchild nane had Kyng Latyn, … The kyngis palice and all that riall hald, All hyr allane, a douchtir dyd with hald [L. servabat]

2. To keep, maintain in a particular fashion. 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 310.
[All the] vther tounis of this realme presentlie be sett at sic libertie and be maid patent, sua that na place thairof salbe withhaldin, fortifeit or garnisit, saiffand the castellis … that … hes bene accustumit to be fortifeit and gairdit 1580 Reg. Privy S. VII 411/1.
The foundament of the … tenement … being waik cannocht be weill and sufficientlie mantenit and withhaldin without proppis and standeris of tymmer

3. a. To keep, hold back (a person) fra a place. b. To hold back (military forces).a. 1513 Doug. iv vi 150.
Ascanyus … Quham of the realm of Itail I defraud, And fra the grond to hym promyst withhawd [Sm. withhad, Ruddim. withhaude]b. 1513 Doug. viii viii 94.
Thar schippys ful thik reddy standis, … Bot ane ancyent dyvynour thame withhaldis Schawand the fatale godly destyne 1513 Doug. ix ii 21.
Gif thai assalȝeit wer … That thai ne suld in batale thame array … Bot bad thai suld alanerly withhald Thar strenth within thar fowseis

4. To hold (a thing). 1513 Doug. viii xi 44.
And in thar hand withhaldand euery knycht Twa iavillyng speris, or than gyssarn stavis

5. To withstand, hold out against (something). 1560 Bk. Disc. 252.
Everie churche must have durres, cloise wyndoes of glas, thak or sclait able to withhold raine, a bell to convocat the people together, a pulpite [etc.]